Friction-clutch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 1.

T. A. WESTON.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

No. 523,874. Patented July 31, 1894. r X,

(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

-'r. A. WESTON.

FRICTION QLUTGH. No. 523,874. Patented July 31, 1894.

Wain/eases Inveraior:

m: roams mm: co. mommeo. WASHING'IDN, o. c,

U T STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- THOMAS A. WESTON, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

.FRiCTiON-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 523.874,- dated July 31, 1894.

application iiled ulyv 27,

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, 'lnonms A. W'Es'ros, a

citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Stamford, Connecticut, have invented certain Improvements in Fl'lQllOllrClLltQllQS, of which the following is a specification.

tain in the manner hereinafter set forth, referencc being had to the ings, in wbich- Figural, is a longitudinal sectionof a friction clutch constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2, is a sectional plan view, on the line 3-4, Fig. 3, Fig. 3, is asectional view of the clutch on the line l-2, Fig.1, showing the greater portion of the clutch in elevation and omitting the clutch operating collar or sleeve; and Fig. 4, is a detached view of one of the clutch operating levers.

In the clutchshown in Figs. 1 to 3, A is a shaft, to which is keyed or otherwise rigidly secured the hub (r of a driving disk B, and running loosely on the shaft is the hub b of a wheel. or disk D, which may be either a pulley for receiving a belt, or may be toothed externally so as to form one of a. pair or train of gears, the power'bcing transmitted either from this loose wheel-=01 disk through the clutching devices and the disk B to the shaft A, or. being transmitted from the shaft A through the disk B and the clutching devices to the wheel or disk D.

Projecting from the face of the disk Bis :urannnla'r flange -B., to which fits snugly a similar flange F on the follower ring Fof the clutch, these-flanges being free to move longitudinally the one upon the other, but being prevented from having any independent circuinferential'movement, by a series of keys or looking pins d engaging with openings or recesses formed in the adjacent faces of the flanges as shown in'Figs. 2'and 3, although, as will be evident, the circumferential retention accompanying draw- 1889. Serial No. 318,838-(110 model.)

of the flanges of the driving disk and 01- lower ring maybe effected by other means, as for instance, by making the flanges polygonal, or of some other than circular con: tour. r

- Both the disk B and follower ring F are provided with loose friction rings I, of wood or other appropriate material, and between these rings is interposed a clutch ring G, which has around its periphery a series ofiprojectingtongues f adapted to recesses f formed in the inner face of the flange of the wheel D, so. that the clutch ring G is keydto said wheel but is free to move longitudinally in respect thereto, although it may be fixed if desired.

Suitable lugs on the under side of the flange F of the follower ring F carry pivot pins g,

to which are hung the clutch actuating levers ll, two of these levers, located diametrically opposite each other, being shown in the presout instance, although it will be evident that three or more of the lovers equidistantly 10- cated, may be used if desired, or one lever only may suflice in some cases.

The head of each lever is cut or recessed down to the circumferential line of the pivot pin so as to provide for the exercise of a high degree of power with the use of a short lever, thus insuring compactness and the exercise of a powerful clutching elfect without the use of the longle'vers or systems of compound levers ordinarilyrcquired.

The outer end of each lever ll is, in the present instance, provided'with an'antifriction roller h, which is acted on by the tapered or conical surface of a sliding sleeve or collhr J, the latter being free to be moved longitudinally on the shaftA by means of theusual forked lover or equivalent device, and being preferably; splin'cdffor the reception of the key which extendsbeyond the hub of the disk B, whereby the sleeve or collar rotates with and preserves at all times, the same circumfercntial relation to said disk and tov the parts rotating therewith, v 4

The acting faceo: of each lever H1- engages with the overhanging head or flange i of a. screw pin M, which is adapted to a. threaded opening in the disk B, and is recessed for the reception of a suitable implement,-whereby it may be turned so as to apply 'it to or remove it from the disk, or adjust it; in respect to the disk.

A series of springs O are adapted to recesses formed in the inner face of the disk 1%, and in a rib F formed around the flange h", the tendeney of these springs being to force the follower ring 1" longitudinally away from the disk B, and thus cause 'hc pins M to so act upon the levers-II as to tn row the outer ends of Said levers inward toward the shaft A when the sliding sleeve or collar J is withdrawn, the clutching, ring ti, being, under these circumstances, frccfrom intimate frictional contact with the friction rings I, and the ring G being, hence, at liberty to rotate independently of the disk 13,.or the latter being free to rotate without imparting corresponding movement to the ring (4. the sliding sleeve or collar J is advanced so as to act; upon the antifriction rollers 7! and press outward the outer ends of the lovers II, the contact of the acting faces of the lovers with the headset the fixed pins .\I causes the follower ring I" to be forced toward the disk It with a power commensura e with the ratio of the long and short radii of the levers, the result being an intimate frictional contact between the rings I and the ring t and a retation of all of the parts together.

The t'm-mation of the engaging flanges 13' and i upon the driving disk H and follower ring 1 imparts to said ring and disk great; stillness against the buckl ng strain of the clutching levers, and insures the accurate guiding and true paralhPlism of .the follower ring in respect-to tlnr'driving disk, and also increases the durability-of the parts under wear.

The driving disk and follower ring of my improved clutch are united operatively, and actuated by means OfdcVti' mechanism approximately longitudinal to the shaft, and fulcrumcd within the inner circumference of the friction faces, the lovers thus occupying the central part or body of the clutch, where the friction surfaces would be least effective from lackof diameter, and where nearuess to the shaft allows the said lever to be conveniently and direetlyaetuatcd by the wedge in clines of the usual sliding eollaron the shaft. Upon withdrawing the sleeve or collar .I, the pins M. can be readily removed and the follower ring i and its. attached parts, the springs 0, outer ring I, clutch ring G, and inner ring I, successive! y witlulrawn for cleansing or renewal, the only .-a.rts requiring probable rcnewal beingtho rings I,-whieh, however, are inexpensive and indefinitely durable under 2 fair conditions of working. r

.Although I have shown but one clutching ring G, it. is obvious that my present invention is applicable to clutches having a series \Vhen, however,-

of such rings, as in my Patent No. 396,315, dated January 15, 1889.

In some of the claims I have alluded to the driving disk and the follower ring as the two clutching elements, these being in effect the clutching agents while the ring G is the Inert or clutched element of the device.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim and desire to secure by Letters latcnt-' 1. he combination of the shaft, the-two gripping disks, and the intermediate friction ring of a disk friction clutch, with a lever hung to one of said gripping disks and acting upon the other, said lever having its fnl crum and bearing point between the shaft and the frictional clutching surfaces, and longitudinally within the limits of the gripping disks,'s'nbstantially as specified.

"2. The combination of the shaft, the two gripping disks, and the intermediate friction ring of a disk friction clutch, with a lever hung to one of said gripping disks and an adjustable projection upon the other disk acted upon by the lever, said lever being fulcrumed between the shaft and the frictional clutching surfaces, and havingits acting portion extending'inward to the journal, substantially as specified. ii. The combination of the friction ring and the two gripping disks of a disk friction clutch. having engaging or telescoping flanges diametrically within the frictional elntchiig surfaces, and a lever hung to one of said gripping disks and acting upon tho other, substantially as specified.

-t. 'lhecmnbination of'the shaft, the friction ring and the two gripping disks of a disk friction clutch, having engaging or telescoping flanges dimuetrically within the frictional clutching surfaces, and a lever hung to one of said disks and'acting upon the-other, said lever being fulcrumed the telescoping flanges, substantially as specilied.

5, The combination of the shaft, the wheel, the driving gripping disk, a second gripping d sk having, a flange engaging with that; of the drivingdisk, the friction ring confined. cireumferentially to but free to move longitudinally on the wheel, a lever carried by one of the gripping disks, and a projection carried by theotherdisk and engaging with said lever, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOS.- A. WESTON.

Witnesses:

Jenn 'J. GEARY, lIARnY'S n'rn.

between the shaft and XOC Correction in Letters Patent No. 523,874.

Countersigned It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 523,874, granted July 31, 1894, upon the application of Thomas A. Weston, of Stamford, Connecticut, for an improvement in Friction-Clutches, were erroneously issued to said Weston as owner of said invention; whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to The Yale and Towne lManufacturing Company, of same place, said Yale and Towne Manufacturing Company being assignee of the entire interest in said invention as shown by the assignments of record in this Ofiice; and that said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record'of the casein the Patent Ofliee.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 20th day of November, A. D. 1894..

SEAL JNO. M. REYNOLDS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

S. T. FISHER,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

